Riedel on BIRDIE, Gershon and the one they call "Corky Sinclair"- Page 2

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 12:41pm

Am I the only one who liked Gershon better than Stamos? Just curious.

She really does give her all, even if its not enough. Stamos is already walking through the role which to me is much more of a problem.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 12:44pm

"And I'd like to know who the hell thinks Longbottom will be the next Michael Bennett."


Mama Longbottom?

[NDR]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 12:51pm

I saw a preview of the show recently and was thoroughly unimpressed.
With half the cast of "13" onstage, I didn't feel their performances were mature enough to handle the choreography or the satire. I'd rather see a developed 22 year old play a 16 year old than an emerging 15 year old struggling to find the "point".

Gershon was an utter disappointment and is clearly out of her league in this role. Boeing Boeing was incredible. This is lackluster.

Stamos sauntered in and out of dorky and suave. Too much of a glaring duality for the role. A little Sinatra mixed with Seymour from Little Shop. Didn't work for me.

Bill Irwin was thoroughly enjoyable as was Jane Houdyshell.

Saw understudy for Conrad Birdie (not sure of his name). Decent performance but he certainly didn't possess the sex appeal and charm needed for the role. The audience needs to be so charmed by him that even the straight men want to rush the stage. A rather dull performance leads us to wonder whether we should even care about Conrad at all.

Overall, the show wreaks of a choreographer turned director challenge. The acting is not well rehearsed or properly worked and the choreography is so high energy with a distinct lack of maturity from its participants that the overall feel of the show is muddy and sloppy.

I don't think it will be a hit.
Too bad. I had hoped for a lot more.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 3:12pm

So do people recommend seeing this show? I'll be in NYC soon and was expecting to see it but if this is another GUYS & DOLLS, then I'm definitely not going to shell out over $70 to see two people who have no business being in a musical, try to tackle two great roles (especially Rose).

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 3:41pm

Stamos and what's-his-name Birdie made Gershon sound like Ethel Merman and Mary Martin wrapped into one. What a LOUSY production!!!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 6:06pm

Having seen the revival a week into previews, I can validate that both Stamos AND Gershon are up to singing the score. The score isn't THAT demanding to begin with. Also, I've obtained an audio of the show made last week and it still validates to me that both Stamos AND Gershon are vocally fine. Their 'scenes' still work as well.

I guess I went to see the production with NO expectations, hence why it worked for me. Yes, I missed Rosie's dance numbers, but I accepted the production regardless.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 6:18pm

Brody, I guess that happened to me too. I went in expecting to be let down and totally enjoyed the show. I didn't think it wad going to be a fabulous production and I ended up being pleased with what I saw.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 6:21pm

Longbottom did a great job on Sideshow for whatever it is worth.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 6:23pm

And Pageant.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 6:27pm

I was not aware he did Pageant

I remember seeing in in that little hole in the wall theater which is probably gone now. It was fun.

Updated On: 10/7/09 at 06:27 PM

[Kev]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 6:47pm

Am I the only one who liked Gershon better than Stamos? Just curious.

You're not alone. While Gershon and Stamos were both problematic, Gershon fared better.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 7:15pm

I totally don't want to become the U.N. on the boards here but if you are comparing this production to something, what is it? Yes, the acting and stuff are sometimes, not the greatest, but its the first revival of a Broadway (IMO) "classic". This is all for new generations. WE can't sit here and be like, "Oh, this show was so much better the last time it was here". IMO, I think if this was a show like Gypsy, or WSS where we have had revivals in the past, we can compare it and be a little more critical.

Sorry, its just in school we're on this big analysis thread, and I'm being brainwashed.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/7/09 at 7:26pm

It's being compared to anything of quality. One would hope that the first revival of Bye Bye Birdie would have much better treatment than what it's getting right now. If young audiences' first exposure to the show is this production and they enjoy it, good for them. They'll enjoy it more when they see a better production. A lot of the main critiques come from people who know the show well (just in general) and see that this production fights the material with the casting, the direction and the even the design.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 12:22am

In a way, this whole thing about Rose "not working" reminded me to ask something. The rumour was that Ann Reinking was forced our of the tour by Tommy Tune...anyone know why, or have any details about that production?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 12:37am

I saw Lenora Nemez as Rosie and I remember hearing from people who had seen the show previously that Reinking's voice was not what it had been in the past. She still danced beautifully but her voice wasn't there. I didn't hear it then but I have been less than impressed with her vocals on the Chicago recording.

Updated On: 10/8/09 at 12:37 AM

[Benc7]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 12:51am

I know Matt Doyle has a small role in this, but is he any good? I saw him play "Melchior" in "Spring Awakening" and then became addicted to the "Bare" recording; he has a beautiful voice. How is he in "Birdie"?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 1:18am

Ann Reinking isn't singing in her own voice -- she's channeling Gwen Verdon. Re-listen to the 1996 Original Broadway Revival Cast Recording of CHICAGO and it is utterly disgusting what she's doing. Oy!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 1:28am

I always get a little sad when I see a recent picture of her. She was so stunningly beautiful but didn't allow herself to age gracefully. She's like a statue now.

[Kev]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 11:34am

I know Matt Doyle has a small role in this, but is he any good?

I found Doyle's performance to be contrived and unfunny but, in the grand scheme of things, that is the least of this revival's problems.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 11:55am

Doyle's role isn't large enough to matter either way. He's perfectly adequate, but certainly not memorable.

[vinnylin]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 2:40pm

I saw Reinking and thought that her voice was quite rough and that she did not pull it off vocally. That said, I also thought the entire Tune production was a mess, and she was the least of its problems. She did of course dance beautifully.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 5:33pm

Going several comments back, I find it really naive to blame the text itself for the problems with the revival. I have seen many a successful high school and amateur production of Birdie and it has always played pretty well. My high school's production, which I had no involvement in, was spectacular. This is clearly a directing and casting problem more than anything.

[wendilin622]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 5:37pm

For a show that's being slammed so much, its very difficult to find tickets. I'm trying to get them for the weekend of November 21st or 22nd and having severe difficulty....

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 5:40pm

"This is clearly a directing and casting problem more than anything."

That statement can be applied to most shows at the Roundabout, though.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 7:23pm

I thought Doyle could have done more with the role. I saw a local production and found that Hugo to be hilariously dorky, but Doyle was just sort of there. Which is sort of the problem with everyone on the stage minus a few.